The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-05-14
The Negro i'm Politics.

The gift of the franchise TO the negro /
was an experiment Lincoln distrusted
and from which the Southern people ex-
pected the most disastrous results 1t Is
to the credit of both races that the sOlu- |
ton of the problem has been reached so |
soon, so peacefully and So satisfactorily. |
At the North as well as i'm the South, the |
freedman was considered unworthy of
the ballot when it was first placed in his
hands-the only difference between the
opinions generally entertained In the
two sections lay in the belief of the
North that the negroes intellectual stature
would grow to meet the demands laid
upon it, while the South believed him
only capable of mental and moral growth
within certain narrow limits. The bal
lot was put in his hands by one party be-
cause it was believed to be a defensive
weapon necessary to his political exist
ence-the measure gained the acquies-
cence of the other because all opposition
had been crushed out with a heavy heel.
But even to those who once held OppO-
site views, the proof of the capacity of
Tile DtSTO HAS 1o" DSCh
strated. We knew him in childhood
and he was with us, the companion
of all outdoor life We knew him ten
der, self-sacrificing and often brave, but
it has been reserved for later years To
furnish conclusive proof of capacity for
business, politics and enterprise of which
we once believed him incapable. To
those who see him rarely there may be
little evidence of improvement-tO us,
watching the development day by day
the change is marvellous.
During the first ten years succeeding
his entire emancipation from the control
to- which he had been accustomed for
generations. the negro was the most help
less being imaginable. Is it wonderful
that his simplicity was betrayed, his igno-
rance made the tool of designing men,
and his strength became dangerous:
Only the power of endurance inherent
! in all our race made the situation toler-
able-only the wonderful resources of
| the richest section under the sun made
recuperation possible; much of the dan
ger and trouble of the old time still
clings to us-the ghost of the dead past
| still haunts the shadowy places of the
present day.
| But the knOttiest point of the problem
has been sOlved-it has been proved that
the negro is capable of development In
all directions and it is now certain that
he will Justify himself for his assump-
j .Sf, v-1svnnaihiIity hAfnrxa the
bar of the future. He is among us As
farmer, merchant, mechanic and legisla-
tor, and often his ability is more than
respectable. Duval has Representative
Gibbs in the Florida legislature and he
has done good service. Alachua has a
coIored citizen in the Senate whose first
term has made a most favorable impress
sion on his colleagues.
1t was this negro Senator, Martin,
who so stoutly opposed Mr.. McKinne S
amendment to reduce the appropriation
for the East Florida Seminary, and who
like most of the more intelligent sons OF
his race, appears to think no sum extrav-
agant which is devoted to the cause OF
education.
When it is remembered that from the
institution in question negroes are ex
Guided the breadth of purpose animatins
its negro champion may be appreciated
Throughout the session Senator Martin
has proved himself a warm and intelli
gent friend of his county's best interests
and sensible and consistent advocate o
the cause of education. He has not for
gotten his own race in urging the loca
ton of a Normal school for negroes a
Gainesville, and, while the paper which
claims the highest rank in the State wa
boasting of the political victory of it
white editor gained by wholesale pur
chase of votes, this negro was quietly aht
thoughtfully framing a law to protec
the ballot and guard the voter agains
the temptation of corruption.
To virtue and intelligence we pay trib
, ute wherever we find it, and we taxi
pleasure in citing instances to prove tina
it may hide in unexpected places and ar
, proud to realize that it affords promise o
. a brighter future and wider usefulnes
to a whole race.